# Black sooty greasy deposit on front wheels

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/black-sooty-greasy-deposit-on-front-wheels/13267>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Created:** [April 25, 2008, 7:18pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/black-sooty-greasy-deposit-on-front-wheels/13267 "2008-04-25T19:18:01Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![trekdc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecccb3/32.png) [@trekdc](https://community.cartalk.com/u/trekdc)\
**Post date:** [April 25, 2008, 7:18pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/black-sooty-greasy-deposit-on-front-wheels/13267/1 "2008-04-25T19:18:01Z")

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I don’t know if anyone has encountered a problem like this, but I have a buildup of oily, soot like grease building up on both front wheels of my 2000 Dodge Dacota PU. When I got the truck about 18 months back, I didn’t notice whether this deposit was present. If it was, it was very small. I cleaned it off once, but it is building up again.  
  
 Q.- Is this a problem with the front disc brakes? Is it a safety issue? Currently, the PU brakes fine, no pulling, or sounds.

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**Author:** ![Joseph\_E\_Meehan](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/joseph_e_meehan/32/21_2.png) [@Joseph\_E\_Meehan](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Joseph_E_Meehan)\
**Post date:** [April 25, 2008, 7:35pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/black-sooty-greasy-deposit-on-front-wheels/13267/2 "2008-04-25T19:35:20Z")

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Are you sure it is grease and not just brake dust.

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**Author:** ![circuitsmith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/circuitsmith/32/40376_2.png) [@circuitsmith](https://community.cartalk.com/u/circuitsmith)\
**Post date:** [April 25, 2008, 7:35pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/black-sooty-greasy-deposit-on-front-wheels/13267/3 "2008-04-25T19:35:33Z")

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Something is leaking grease or oil and it’s mixing with the brake dust. Ball joint boots broken?

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**Author:** ![trekdc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecccb3/32.png) [@trekdc](https://community.cartalk.com/u/trekdc)\
**Post date:** [April 25, 2008, 9:23pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/black-sooty-greasy-deposit-on-front-wheels/13267/4 "2008-04-25T21:23:01Z")

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Interesting. DIdn’t think of that. Probably because the there are no grease fittings, so I just put it out of sight & out of mind. WIll check that. Thanks. And to the earlier reply, the deposits are defintely greasy.

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**Author:** ![BustedKnuckles](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bustedknuckles/32/25_2.png) [@BustedKnuckles](https://community.cartalk.com/u/BustedKnuckles)\
**Post date:** [April 26, 2008, 12:30am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/black-sooty-greasy-deposit-on-front-wheels/13267/5 "2008-04-26T00:30:28Z")

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Also, check the seals for the wheel bearings. This being 8 years old, maybe the seals are worn or damaged, and letting wheel bearing grease escape.